Chinese missile destroyer "Shenzhen" in Japan last year, the first such visit in the history of the naval forces of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. (Xinhua Photo)
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Somalia update - Chinese warships join piracy battle
Posted: Dec 19, 2008 12:55 am EST
(TheOceans.net) A ship loaded with Russian tanks, ammo, guns and rocket launchers brokered by Ukraine, headed for Kenya and flying a Belize flag. A Greek oil tanker under Panamanian flag. A Saudi-owned super-tanker carrying two million barrels of crude oil. Just some of the booty for pirates off the coast of Somalia in the past few months.
A Russian warship, enroute "to cooperate with unspecified countries in anti-piracy efforts" was redirected to Somalia after the hijack of the Ukrainian vessel in September. Today China - a big supporter of nearby Darfur - announced it too is preparing to send warships to fight piracy in the area.
Shipping companies and merchant marines themselves resist protection, claiming fears of risks of "collateral damage both to ships and innocent seafarers." Until came Indian naval ship, INS Mysore and captured 23 pirates last week, comprising 11 Yemenis and 12 Somalis according to the Hindu.
The pirate network is believed to stretch from Europe to Dubai, identifying targets and feeding intelligence to the gangs based along Somalia's coastline. Cash raised from ransoms is reportedly used to fund war in the area, plus for business investments in the United Arab Emirates and Kenya.
The pirates use AK-47s, speedboats, and Russian built fishing vessels as mother ships. Hindu reports that between 330-500 pirates are active in Somalian waters, backed by six to eight mother ships and led by three main clans in Somalia. More than 100 attacks have been reported in key shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden, since the start of this year.
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